Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said on Thursday thet in consultation with the minority Shia Muslim community the authorities have imposed restriction on carrying sharp weapons during the traditional Tazia procession during Ashura.
He said that in the past, they used to bring out procession carrying different kinds of sharp weapons. ‘We have instructed them not to carry daggers, razors and machetes during the procession on security ground. It [the procession with sharp weapon] is not tenet of religion,’ the DMP chief told the reporters at a function at Mirpur.
This year, 10th of Muharram will coincide with the immersion of Hindu idols on October 11.
He said they have talked with both Hindu and Shia communities so that no misunderstanding takes place over the route of procession and way of immersion of idols mostly in the Sadarghat area in old city.
He said the authorities already worked out separate routes for both communities on the same day to avoid any untoward incidents.
The DMP has already deployed forces to ensure the safety of the venues of Durga Puja.
Plainclothes will be on patrol at all the Puja Mandaps and close circuit cameras will be installed at various key points. The streets will be illuminated adequately.
The DMP chief said that they have already formed community level security committees for the 229 Puja venues in the city to ensure additional safety.
In October 2015, at least two people were killed and several others injured when members of Shia community were gathering at Hosni Dalan for a traditional Tajia procession planned to be brought out from there.
The day marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and the Shia community has been observing the day for centuries. But that was the first time that they came under such an attack in Bangladesh.